Interesting info on the Viet Nam Wall Memorial

[NOTPAID4]

SOBERING STATISTICS OF THE VIETNAM WALL

This is our generation's war.


Something to think about. "Carved on these walls is the story of America, of a continuing quest to preserve both democracy and decency, and to protect a national treasure that we call the American dream."

Something to think about: Most of the surviving parents of the dead are now deceased themselves. There are 58,267 names now listed on that polished black wall, including those added in 2010.

The names are arranged in the order in which they were taken from us by date and within each date the names are alphabetized. It is hard to believe it is 36 years since the last casualties.

The first known casualty was Richard B. Fitzgibbon, of North Weymouth, Mass., listed by the U.S. Department of Defense as having been killed on June 8, 1956. His name is listed on the Wall with that of his son, Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Richard B. Fitzgibbon III, who was killed on Sept. 7, 1965.

There are three sets of fathers and sons on the Wall. 39,996 on the Wall were just 22 or younger.

The largest age group, 8,283 were just 19 years old 33,103 were 18 years old.

12 soldiers on the Wall were 17 years old.

5 soldiers on the Wall were 16 years old.

One soldier, PFC Dan Bullock was 15 years old.

997 soldiers were killed on their first day in Vietnam ..

1,448 soldiers were killed on their last scheduled day in Vietnam ..

31 sets of brothers are on the Wall.

Thirty one sets of parents lost two of their sons.

54 soldiers on the Wall attended Thomas Edison High School in Philadelphia....wonder why so many from one school?

8 Women are on the Wall -- nursing the wounded.

244 soldiers were awarded the Medal of Honor during the Vietnam War; 153 of them are on the Wall.

Beallsville, Ohio with a population of 475 lost 6 of her sons.

West Virginia had the highest casualty rate per capita in the nation.
There are 711 West Virginians on the Wall.

The Marines of Morenci - They led some of the scrappiest high school football and basketball teams that the little Arizona copper town of Morenci (pop. 5,058) had ever known and cheered. They enjoyed
roaring beer busts. In quieter moments, they rode horses along the Coronado Trail, stalked deer in the Apache National Forest. And in the patriotic camaraderie typical of Morenci's mining families, the nine
graduates of Morenci High enlisted as a group in the Marine Corps.
Their service began on Independence Day, 1966. Only 3 returned home.

The Buddies of Midvale - LeRoy Tafoya, Jimmy Martinez, Tom Gonzales were all boyhood friends and lived on three consecutive streets in Midvale, Utah on Fifth, Sixth and Seventh avenues. They lived only a few
yards apart. They played ball at the adjacent sandlot ball field. And they all went to Vietnam. In a span of 16 dark days in late 1967, all three would be killed. LeRoy was killed on Wednesday, Nov. 22, the fourth anniversary of John F. Kennedy's assassination. Jimmy died less than 24 hours later on Thanksgiving Day. Tom was shot dead assaulting the enemy on Dec. 7, Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.

The most casualty deaths for a single day was on January 31, 1968 -- 245 deaths.

The most casualty deaths for a single month was May 1968 -- 2,415 casualties were incurred.

For many Americans who read this they will only see the numbers that the Vietnam War created. To those of us who survived the war, and to the families of those who did not, we see the faces, we feel the
pain that these numbers created. We are, until we too pass away, haunted with these numbers, because they were our friends, fathers, husbands, wife's, sons and daughters.

There are no noble wars, just noble warriors...

"That we never forget"

[Smitty]

Was at the Wall about 10 years a go. I had orders for Thailand 74-75, but they were cancelled.

Salute!

[blackshadow]

being there at the wall is a feeling you will never forget, and every Amarican should go and see it. Well done Jim

[Storm Rider]

Just awe inspiring. From one vet to another : ALL Gave Some & Some Gave All. May we never forget our comrades and the price that is paid daily for our FREEDOM.

[Fla 66 cuda]

Thanks Jim i have been there it's a very emotional place i get very emotional thinking about it,i'm a little young to have gone but i had friends who lost brothers,fathers,cousins there,i work with a friend who spent three tours as a river rat,and then over a year in bay pines va rubber hotel.The monument is awe inspiring when one sees numbers it's a small thing but put them numbers as names on a wall it makes you realize just how many folks gave their lives for this country.God bless all of them and the ones who have not come home yet.

[SmokedRam]

As I have said before, I have spent alot of time with my uncle, driving him from and to the VA over in Tampa...I have a very fond repect for our veterans. The sacrafices they have made so unselfishly that allow us, who havent served, live in a land where we can do pretty much as we please when we please. I personally thank all of you who have made those sacrafices, from the bottom of my heart. For those who made the ultimate sacrafice and are no longer with us, God speed and God bless.

[4XLGator]

I have seen/visited the moving wall, a replica of the real one that travels around. I was overwhelmed to say the least. A friend of mine at work served in Vietnam and he will not talk about his tours other than to say "I was there and have no good memories of it".

I have the utmost respect and appreciate to soldiers young and old.

Thanks to you guys and all others that serve and have served.

[whoyadoc]

"That we never forget" Thank you Jim.